He also planned and supervised the collection of statistics of the precious metals for the Tenth Census, a work which has never been equaled in detail or scientific accuracy, and whose logical result was the annual collection of statistics of all the mineral resources of the United States, which has been carried on by the Geological Survey ever since the completion of the work of the Tenth Census.

While it was his work as an organizer and administrator that will have the most far reaching results, results that will endure when the memory of him shall have become dim, his personal influence in maintaining high standards of scientific accuracy and personal integrity in the mining profession was always most potent.

In the case of the exposure of the diamond fraud of 1872, the credit of the discovery of its long concealed location was due to his assistants, who happened to have surveyed during the previous summer the region within which it was included. It was in the interest of pure science, and in the hope of discovering the true matrix of the diamond, that he undertook its investigation. When it was discovered that the ground had been salted, it was King's prompt action that averted the financial catastrophe that threatened to involve Europe, as well as this country. By traveling day and night he outstripped all other possible means of information, and on reaching San Francisco made a peremptory demand upon the directors of the company that they should at once stop all issue and transfer of stock. To a suggestion that the announcement should be temporarily delayed, he replied: "There is not money enough in the Bank of California to induce me to delay this announcement a single hour." It was in San Francisco, where the company had started, and its stock was mainly held, that the importance of this discovery was best appreciated. With regard to it the Reverend Horatio Stebbins made the following significant utterance: "One scientific man, whose untarnished fame alone is worth all the diamonds in the world, has found occasion to prove to the world the value of science and his own great moral worth; and that result alone compensates for all the shame of this great fraud. This man, in response to the promptings of duty and responsibility as the geologist-incharge of the territory where the diamond field was alleged to be located, sought out the scene of the fraud in the service of science alone and hastened with his undeniable proofs to those engaged in forwarding the scheme and put an end to the projected robbery of the people. To have learned that we have one such man is enough to make us look upon the whole stupendous wrong and its results as a cause of thankfulness."

In the course of his long and varied career King served as expert in many famous mining law suits, such as the RichmondEureka case in Nevada, the Dives-Pelican case in Colorado, the Center Star-Iron Mask in British Columbia, and the Anaconda and other mines, in Butte, Montana, but he was never willing to accept a retainer in such service until he had satisfied himself by personal observation that the contention of the side that desired his services was in accord with his reading of the geological structure and such as he could conscientiously subscribe to. There have been cases where the entire line of argument has been changed after the inception of the case in deference to his opinion of its geological untenability.

He possessed not only a keen insight into geological structure, as developed in the underground workings of mines, that is rare, even among the best and most experienced geologists, but also a remarkable grasp of its legal bearing, so that to him was commonly allotted the general conduct of the case and the determination of the line of attack or defense to be followed. This, however, did not satisfy his conception of his duty toward his client, for he was never willing to trust to the observations of another, but always verified every fact in detail by his own personal inspection. He thus obtained such thorough knowledge of his subject that the most skillful lawyers in the profession were unable to shake his testimony by their cross-examinations, which often extended over several days' time.

This class of work was, however, to King a matter of necessity rather than of predilection, although he took pleasure in it, as he did in everything that involved a contest of wits and intellect. His first preference was for investigation in pure science, and to contribute in this line permanent and substantial additions to the foundations of human knowledge was his highest ambition; in literature and art he delighted, as a mental recreation and pastime, but money-making was to him merely a means to an end; necessary, but of relatively subordinate importance. That circumstances necessitated the devotion of so much of his time to the latter occupation has been a material loss to the world of science and art.

During his directorship of the Geological Survey he established a laboratory of experimental physics, defraying the expense of its costly apparatus out of his own pocket, and securing for its conduct the services of the most prominent young physicists of the day. Here were carried on under him a series of investigations into the Constants of Nature, with a view of testing experimentally, and, if necessary, revising the existing theories upon the constitution of the earth. The results of these investigations have already constituted important contributions to the science

of terrestrial physics; King's paper on the "Age of the Earth," in the American Journal, has been characterized by such men as Kelvin and Helmholtz as a most important contribution to the study of the earth. The final summing up of a new theory of the earth, though it had been formulated in his mind, was still awaiting the long-hoped-for moment of leisure when it was cut short by death. In literature he had published but little, his principal work being "Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada," a combination of scientific descriptions and genre-painting which possesses literary merit equal to that of the best literary writers of the day.

In the spring of 1901, after an unusually arduous mining campaign, he had a severe attack of pneumonia and whooping cough, and during convalescence it was discovered that he had contracted tuberculosis, the seeds of which were supposed to have been sown during a visit to the Klondike in the previous summer. From this disease he died at Phoenix, Arizona, on the 24th of December, 1901, in the 60th year of his age.

S. F. EMMONS.

Besides the publications mentioned above, the following scientific papers are credited to Clarence King:

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'On the Discovery of Actual Glaziers on the Mountains of the Pacific Slope."-American Journal of Science, 3d Ser. Vol. I, pp. 157-161, 1871.

"Paleozoic Subdivisions of the Fortieth Parallel."-American Journal of Science, 3d Series, Vol. II, pages 475-482, 1876.

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Notes on the Uinta and Wahsatch Ranges."—American Journal of Science, 3d Series, Vol. XI, page 494, 1876. Catastrophism and Evolution.”—American Naturalist, Vol. XI, pages 449-470, 1877.

"Report on Physical Constants of Rocks."-United States Geological Survey, Third Annual Report, pages 3-9, 1883. "The Age of the Earth."-American Journal of Science, third series, Vol. XLV, pages 1-20, 1893. Smithsonian Institution Annual Report, 1892-93, pages 338-352.

The following letter was published in the Engineering and Mining Journal of January 18, 1902:

SIR: It is far more fitting that honor be done Clarence King in some masterpiece of poetry, music or art, but, powerless to do this, I can only offer my tribute to his memory in a few halting phrases.

The news of his death reached me just a year from the day we became acquainted, and in thought I live over again that and the few succeeding days during which I had the privilege of intercourse with one of the rare souls which make this earth happier and better for their presence. During these days the disease which ultimately proved fatal was slowly fastening upon him, yet even in his suffering his cheerful and kindly smile, and his fascinating conversation made the lonely mining camp a radiant spot. His constant courtesy to the most humble miner or servant, his unfailing humor, which neither sickness nor disappointment could check, his sympathetic interest in the perplexities of his associates, and the rare charm and polish of his conversation marked him as a perfect gentleman and an unselfish soul.

Men such as Clarence King are few indeed. His interests were as broad as civilization and his sympathies as catholic as humanity. Merely to be in his company was in very truth a liberal education, and I feel that I cannot estimate the great value to myself of that month of daily intercourse with him. Only too clearly I realize the impossibility of expressing in these feeble and commonplace sentences the great privilege of an acquaintance with Clarence King. But I could not do less than try.

With the ending of his life it seems as though the sun had set on a glorious day. But in the darkened firmament the brilliant star of his memory will remain a constant reminder of the goal he reached and toward which we all may strive in perfect. faith that it is worthy of every high thought and noble purpose. HENRY M. ADKINSON.

CHICAGO, Jan. 8, 1902.

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